Holyoke Mayor Recognized for Leadership in Clean Energy
Changing the Narrative
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia was named a finalist for the Mayor of the Year Award, presented by the Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition (NREC), in recognition of his leadership and innovation in clean energy and community development.
Garcia is the first mayor in Massachusetts to be recognized by the NREC. The award will be presented during Massachusetts Clean Energy Week, taking place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4.
“I am overwhelmed and honored to receive this recognition on behalf of Holyoke,” Garcia said. “This award is for all of us in Holyoke, not just me — our residents, business owners, and neighborhood and community activists who love our city and work so hard to move us forward in the effort to harness our clean energy resources to continue to bring environmental and economic benefits to our city.”
Holyoke has become a leader in hydroelectric and renewable energy. Through community partnerships and long-term planning, Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) has built a sustainable clean energy portfolio. Its core strategy is to overestimate future demand, an approach that led the utility to upgrade infrastructure and install one of Massachusetts’ largest utility batteries to handle peak demand.
Affordable clean energy has also helped to attract ventures like the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center and Sublime Systems to Holyoke.
In a letter to the mayor, NREC Executive Director Kristin Rode praised Holyoke’s progress and Garcia’s community-centered approach.
Mayor Joshua Garcia
“This award is for all of us in Holyoke, not just me — our residents, business owners, and neighborhood and community activists who love our city and work so hard to move us forward in the effort to harness our clean energy resources to continue to bring environmental and economic benefits to our city.”
“Your dedication to your community and the innovative solutions you’re implementing make you a natural fit for recognition during Massachusetts Clean Energy Week. Your leadership in Holyoke has caught our attention as truly exceptional,” she wrote.
“We understand that Western Massachusetts is often left out of the spotlight when it comes to statewide recognition, and we want to change that narrative. From what we have learned about your innovative approaches to municipal leadership and community development, you represent exactly the kind of community-centered leadership that deserves to be celebrated and shared with mayors across the Commonwealth.”
Garcia has also negotiated upgrades to Holyoke’s wastewater treatment system, replacing outdated infrastructure with energy-efficient, environmentally sound technology.
One of these separates the existing combined sewer flows within Holyoke’s River Terrace area. By leveraging clean energy savings and working closely with state and federal agencies, his administration secured funding to reduce long-term operating costs and improve water quality. These improvements not only align with Holyoke’s sustainability goals, but also position the city as a model for green municipal operations across Massachusetts.
“I appreciate Kristin’s kind thoughts about our work to change the narrative,” Garcia said. “That is exactly my greatest hope, every day, for Holyoke, for all our people — to change past perceptions and narratives. This industrial city is again being known as a place of so many possibilities.”
Representatives of the Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition visited Holyoke in early August to tour the city and learn more about these projects and initiatives.
“This nomination is an unequivocal testament to every Holyoke resident’s shared commitment to a stronger future,” Garcia said.
